Trevor Nelson has returned to BBC Radio 2, marking his first on-air appearance since undergoing surgery for a brain tumor. The 62-year-old broadcaster presented his two-hour slot on Monday afternoon, reflecting on what he described as an "emotional and difficult summer."

Nelson had announced in June that he would be taking an extended break from his work commitments to focus on his health, initially without disclosing specific details. In August, he revealed the nature of his illness, explaining that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and had undergone "very serious surgery."

"I'm so happy to be here. Back with my colleagues. It is like a family. It feels like I've been away and come back," Nelson said upon his return to the airwaves. He likened his summer absence to being "hijacked" and expressed gratitude for the support he received. "My management, my wife has been amazing and everybody close to me," he stated. "Do you know what? It feels weird to say people who I don't know have helped me massively. All the listeners. All the love has been overwhelming."

He emphasized the impact of listener support during his "darkest moments," acknowledging that the well wishes from those who wished for his return were genuinely helpful. Nelson shared that returning to broadcasting was a specific target for his recovery, and he actively discussed his progress with his doctor to determine the earliest possible return date.

Nelson plans to stagger his return, presenting again on Wednesday and aiming for more shows in the following week. He opened his first show back with "Welcome Back" by John Sebastian, followed by Stevie Wonder's "(Uptight) Everything's Alright," stating, "I feel that way, everything's alright."

He expressed how much he missed his work, the studio, and his audience, calling BBC Radio 2 "the best radio station in the world."

Last month, Nelson detailed his health battle in an Instagram video. He addressed speculation about his illness and felt compelled to share his situation due to the outpouring of support from his fans. While he indicated he might share the full story later, he intended to keep most details private. He described the discovery of the brain tumor as a shock that turned his world upside down.

Nelson confirmed that his "very serious surgery" was successful, and he spent the subsequent month in recovery and post-operative treatment. He reported feeling "great right now," energized and "almost back to myself," ready to return to work.

In June, friends of Nelson had expressed confidence in his eventual return to presenting after a period of recovery, noting that he was still planning his end-of-year schedule, including his annual Christmas events.

Nelson, who typically hosts weekday shows on Radio 2 and a Sunday show on BBC Radio 1Xtra, had initially informed his followers in June about taking a break due to illness following routine medical check-ups. He stressed the importance of focusing on recovery to return to 100 percent.

Earlier in the year, at the Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC) Awards, Nelson had spoken about his extensive radio career, spanning 40 years, and mused about how many more years he could continue, stating he loved "every single moment of it."

Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay had sent Nelson best wishes on air shortly after news of his illness broke, calling him a "stalwart broadcaster" and expressing confidence in his ability to face the challenge.